Category Archives: Writer Troubles

Ok. So I’ve got four reviews to post, presumably over the next two and a half weeks. (Sometimes I’m just not in the mood to review. You understood.) Anyway, what I want to talk about now is the irrational fear of typing up notes. 🙂

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Sometimes good thoughts keep coming to my head. I sit down at my computer and . . . the words just don’t come. I want to write an entire book at that one sitting, but . . . on the other hand, I don’t wanna.

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There are so many weird hangups in a writer’s life. Am I wrong? For instance, I keep stalling on my poetry project because I keep writing poetry. And, since I’m self-publishing, who’s to say when I should cut myself off?! Even weirder, my latest writing dilemma has to do with turtles.

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I read Amazon reviews. I don’t always trust them, but I read them with interest. Imagine my horror, however, when I read this one: “Anyone who ‘receives a complimentary copy’ whether or not for a review automatically makes my “do not buy” list. Automatic boycott.”

A conference speaker once talked about how multitasking doesn’t really work. She argued that multitasking really means that we’re distracted no matter what task is at hand. Yeah, I have six children, nine and under. I cannot not multitask. So, I told myself, I’ll just focus on whatever is at hand. I’ll serial task. Still, that’s pretty much resulted in serial multitasking.

I visited my folks and caught a glimpse of the Masterpiece Theater show Victoria. It looked quite good, and there was a lovely scene of a young Victoria singing while her husband tries to accompany her on piano. It struck me just how much culture and entertainment have changed. So I ask you, if you could, how would– or could–you build a culture differently within your family? Neighborhood? Novel?!

I hope by now I’ve established that I want to encourage you, especially to write. Now, sure, I’d like to sell a few books along the way so now and again I look up things about “author websites” and blah blah blah. Well, A) apparently I’m not going to be giving any advice about “author websites,” and B) it’s apparently a thing to have progress indicators.

Almost published but . . . waiting to hear back from a publisher, struggling to find pre-readers, struggling with editing, shaking your fist at your website, etc.

Listen, it’s ok. “Almost published” has a few of its own unique struggles and burdens. Still, it’s ok.

All sorts of things can prevent you from finally holding your professionally printed work in your hand. It’s still ok.

I want to let you in on something you likely haven’t thought about. Once you’ve been paid for something, you’re technically a professional writer. What is sometimes glossed over is that sometimes you get an advance only to have your contract pulled. It’s happened to more people than you probably realize. 🙂 Mostly it’s an example of how economics and professional writing conflict! It’s still ok! You should keep writing and plugging away at the publishing game!

You may not have a lot of readers, but I bet each one of you has a reader if you write so much as a letter.

You may not have perfect grammar or an editor’s eye, but I’m glad you’ve taken the time and energy to put your words down. You have succeeded at sharing!

Shaking your fist? I’ve been there many times. Might I suggest a cup of something nice? Or some tension-relieving? 😉

Almost published is great. Seriously. It’s an accomplishment. Sure, you may want “published,” but if Jesus returns while a book is en route to its author for the first time . . . it’s still better that Jesus has come. 😀 Whether or not pre-readers have finished, publishers have gone through their submissions, etc.

Come, Lord Jesus.

In more materialistic news, CPH is having its yearly warehouse sale November 2nd through November 6th. I always start browsing the Not Quite Perfect section first. (It’s around all year, but somehow I forget about it.) I’m sure it’s purposefully in time for all our Christmas shopping.

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About Me

Mary Jackquelyn Moerbe (rhymes with Furby) is an LCMS deaconess, writer, speaker, and homeschooler. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Letters, a combination of history, literature, language, and philosophy, and a BA in music. Her master of arts degree is in theology with deaconess certification from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. She and her husband, Rev. Ned A. Moerbe, have six children and live in Oklahoma.

About this Site

The “Meet, Write, and Salutary” blog encourages Lutherans to write. At the same time, maybe this website is better understood as a reading, writing, and resources place.

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I participate in the Amazon Associates Program. If you follow links on my page, I may receive a small commission with zero additional cost to you. Beyond an occasional free book, I receive no reimbursement or profit from endorsing or reviewing.